Methods for conversion of lignocellulosic-derived products to transportation fuel precursors

Abstract

Methods are disclosed for converting a biomass-derived product containing levulinic acid and/or gamma-valerolactone to a transportation fuel precursor product containing diesel like hydrocarbons. These methods are expected to produce fuel products at a reduced cost relative to conventional approaches.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for conversion of a lignocellulosic biomass reactant to a transportation fuel product, comprising the single step of:
 reacting a lignocellulosic biomass reactant comprising levulinic acid and/or gamma-valerolactone and a reducing agent in an aqueous feed over a lanthanum-zirconia ketonization catalyst at ambient pressure and a temperature from 340° C. to 450° C. to generate a diesel hydrocarbon mixture product and an aqueous phase product. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, formic acid, and xylitol. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of recycling the aqueous-phase product back into the feed to enrich the reactant stream and increase the yield of open-chain olefins in the diesel hydrocarbon mixture product. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein about 40 to 60% of the diesel hydrocarbon mixture product boils in the range from about 25° C. to about 300° C. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous phase product comprises at least one of the group consisting of alcohols, ketones, and aldehydes. 
     
     
       6. A method for conversion of a lignocellulosic biomass reactant to a transportation fuel product, comprising the single step of:
 reacting a lignocellulosic biomass reactant comprising levulinic acid and/or gamma-valerolactone in an aqueous feed containing a reducing agent over a cerium-lanthanum-zirconia ketonization catalyst at ambient pressure and a temperature from 340° C. to 450° C. to generate a diesel hydrocarbon mixture product and an aqueous phase product. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, formic acid, and xylitol. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of recycling the aqueous-phase product comprising alcohols, ketones, and aldehydes back into the feed to enrich the reactant stream and increase the yield of open chain olefins in the diesel hydrocarbon mixture product. 
     
     
       9. A single-step method for forming gamma-valerolactone from a lignocellulosic biomass reactant comprising levulinic acid, the method comprising the single step of: reacting the lignocellulosic biomass reactant in an aqueous feed comprising levulinic acid in the presence of an organic reducing agent over a lanthanum-zirconia ketonization catalyst at ambient pressure at a temperature from 300° C. to 350° C. to generate gamma-valerolactone.